Part II: a choice collection of modern relations, part 2 of 12

The Drummer was tryed at the Assizes at Salisbury upon this occasion. He was committed first to Gloucester Gaol for stealing, and a Wiltshire Man coming to see him, he askt what news in Wiltshire. The Visitant said, he knew of none. No, saith the Drummer! do not you hear of the Drumming at a Gentlemans house at Tedworth. That I do enough, said the other. I, quoth the Drummer, I have plagued him (or to that purpose) and he shall never be at quiet, till he hath made me satisfaction for taking away my Drum. Upon Information of this, the fellow was tryed for a Witch at Sarum, and all the main circumstances I have related, were sworn at the Assizes by the Minister of the Parish, and divers others of the most intelligent and substantial Inhabitants, who had been Eye and Ear witnesses of them, time after time for divers years together.

The fellow was condemned to Transportation, and accordingly sent away; but I know not how ('tis said by raising storms, and affrighting the Seamen) he made a shift to come back again. And 'tis observable, that during all the time of his restraint and absence the house was quiet, but as soon as ever he came back at liberty, the disturbance returned.

He had been a Souldier under Cromwel, and used to talk much of Gallant Books he had of an odd fellow, who was counted a Wizzard. Upon this occasion, I shall here add a passage, which I had not from Mr. Mompesson, but yet relates to the main purpose.

The Gentleman, who was with me at the House, Mr. Hill, being in company with one Compton of Summersetshire, who practiseth Physick, and pretends to strange matters, related to him this story of Mr. Mompesson's disturbance. The Physician told him, he was sure it was nothing but a Rendezvouz of Witches, and that for an hundred pounds, he would undertake to rid the House of all disturbance. In pursuit of this discourse, he talkt of many high things, and having drawn my friend into another Room apart from the rest of the company, said, he would make him sensible he could do something more than ordinary, and askt him who he desired to see. Mr. Hill had no great confidence in his talk, but yet being earnestly prest to name some one, He said, he desired to see no one so much as his Wife, who was then many miles distant from them at her home. Upon this, Compton took up a Looking-glass that was in the Room, and setting it down again, bid my friend look in it; which he did, and there, as he most solemnly and seriously professeth, he saw the exact Image of his Wife in that habit which she then wore, and working at her Needle in such a part of the Room (there represented also) in which and about which time she really was as he found upon inquiry when he came home. The Gentleman himself averred this to me, and he is a very sober, intelligent, and credible person. Compton had no knowledge of him before, and was an utter stranger to the person of his Wife. The same Man we shall meet again in the story of the Witchcrafts of Elizabeth Style, whom he discovered to be a Witch by foretelling her coming into an house, and going out again without speaking, as is set down in the third Relation. He was by all counted a very odd person.

Thus I have written the summ of Mr. Mompesson's disturbance, which I had partly from his own mouth related before divers, who had been witnesses of all, and confirmed his relation, and partly from his own Letters, from which the order and series of things is taken. The same particulars he writ also to Dr. Creed, then Doctor of the Chair in Oxford.

Mr. Mompesson is a Gentleman, of whose truth in this account, I have not the least ground of suspicion, he being neither vain nor credulous, but a discreet, sagacious and manly person. Now the credit of matters of Fact depends much upon the Relatours, who, if they cannot be deceived themselves nor supposed any ways interessed to impose upon others, ought to be credited. For upon these circumstances, all humane Faith is grounded, and matter of Fact is not capable of any proof besides, but that of immediate sensible evidence. Now this Gentleman cannot be thought ignorant, whether that he relates be true or no, the Scene of all being his own house, himself a witness and that not of a circumstance or two, but of an hundred, nor for once or twice only, but for the space of some years, during which he was a concerned, and inquisitive Observer. So that it cannot with any shew of reason be supposed that any of his Servants abused him, since in all that time he must needs have detected the deceit. And what interest could any of his family have had (if it had been possible to have managed it without discovery) to continue so long so troublesome, and so injurious an Imposture? Nor can it with any whit of more probability be imagined, that his own melancholy deluded him, since (besides that he is no crazy nor imaginative person) that humour could not have been so lasting and pertinacious. Or if it were so in him, can we think he infected his whole Family, and those multitudes of neighbors and others, who had so often been witnesses of those passages? Such supposals are wild, and not like to tempt any, but those whose Wills are their Reasons. So that upon the whole, the principal Relatour Mr. Mompesson himself knew, whether what he reports was true or not, whether those things acted in his house were contrived Cheats, or extraordinary Realities. And if so, what interest could he serve in carrying on, or conniving at a juggling Design and Imposture?

He suffered by it in his Name, in his Estate, in all his Affairs, and in the general peace of his Family. The Unbelievers in the matter of Spirits and Witches took him for an Impostour. Many others judged the permission of such an extraordinary evil to be the judgment of God upon him, for some notorious wickedness or impiety. Thus his name was continually exposed to censure, and his estate suffered, by the concourse of people from all parts to his house, by the diversion it gave him from his affairs, by the discouragement of Servants, by reason of which he could hardly get any to live with him. To which if I add the continual hurry that his Family was in, the affrights, vexations and tossings up and down of his Children, and the watchings and disturbance of his whole house (in all which, himself must needs be the most concerned person) I say, if these things are considered, there will be little reason to think he could have any interest to put a cheat upon the World, in which he would most of all have injured and abused himself. Or if he should have designed and managed so incredible, so unprofitable a Delúsion, 'tis strange that he should have troubled himself so long in such a business, only to deceive, and to be talkt of. And it is yet more so, that none of those many inquisitive persons that came thither purposely to criticize and examine the truth of those matters, could make any discoveries of the Juggling, especially since many came prejudiced against the belief of such things in general, and others resolved before-hand against the belief of this, and all were permitted the utmost freedom of search and inquiry. And after things were weighed and examined, some that were before greatly prejudiced, went away fully convinced. To all which I add, that

There are divers particulars in the story, in which no abuse or deceit could have been practised, as the motion of Boards and Chairs of themselves, the beating of a Drum in the midst of a Room, and in the Air, when nothing was to be seen; the great heat in a Chamber that had no Fire in excessive cold weather, the scratching and panting, the violent beating and shaking of the Bedsteads, of which there was no perceivable cause or occasion: In these and such like instances, it is not to be conceived how tricks could have been put upon so many, so jealous, and so inquisitive persons as were witnesses of them.

'Tis true, that when the Gentlemen the King sent were there, the House was quiet, and nothing seen nor heard that night, which was confidently and with triumph urged by many, as a confutation of the story. But 'twas bad Logick to conclude in matters of Fact from a single Negative and such a one against numerous Affirmatives, and so affirm that a thing was never done, because not at such a particular time, and that no body ever saw what this Man or that did not. By the same way of reasoning, I may inferr that there were never any Robberies done on Salisbury Plain, Ho[…]nslow Heath, or the other noted places, because I have often Travelled all those ways, and yet was never Robbed; and the Spaniard inferred well that said, There was no Sun in England, because he had been six Weeks here and never saw it. This is the common argument of those that deny the Being of Apparitions, they have Travelled all hours of the night, and never saw any thing worse than themselves (which may well be) and thence they conclude, that all pretended Apparitions are Fancies or Impostures. But why do not such arguers conclude, that there was never a Cut-purse in London, because they have lived there many years without being met with by any of those Practisers? Certainly he that denies Apparitions upon the confidence of this Negative against the vast heap of Positive assurances, is credulous in believing there was ever any Highway-man in the World, if he himself was never Robb'd. And the Trials of Assizes and Attestations of those that have (if he will be just) ought to move his Assent no more in this case, than in that of Witches and Apparitions, which have the very same evidence.

But as to the quiet of Mr. Mompesson's house when the Courtiers were there, it may be remembred and considered, that the disturbance was not constant, but intermitted sometimes several dayes, sometimes Weeks. So that the intermission at that time might be accidental, or perhaps the Daemon was not willing to give so publick a Testimony of those Transactions, which possibly might convince those, who he had rather should continue in the unbelief of his existence. But however it were, this circumstance will afford but a very slender inference against the credit of the story, except among those who are willing to take any thing for an Argument against things which they have an interest not to acknowledge.

I have thus related the sum of the story, and noted some circumstances that assure the truth of it. I confess the passages recited are not so dreadful, Tragical and amazing, as there are some in story of this kind, yet are they never the less probable or true, for their being not so prodigious and astonishing. And they are strange enough to prove themselves effects of some invisible extraordinary Agent, and so demonstrate that there are Spirits, who sometimes sensibly intermeddle in our affairs. And I think they do it with clearness of evidence. For these things were not done long ago, or at far distance, in an ignorant age, or among a barbarous people, they were not seen by two or three only of the Melancholick and superstitious, and reported by those that made them serve the advantage and interest of a party. They were not the passages of a Day or Night, nor the vanishing glances of an Apparition; but these Transactions were near and late, publick, frequent, and of divers years continuance, witnessed by multitudes of competent and unbyassed Attestors, and acted in a searching incredulous Age: Arguments enough one would think to convince any modest and capable reason.

ADVERTISEMENT.

This Narrative of the Daemon of Tedworth is published in an Epistolar Form in the former Impressions. But the enlargement thereof, that is to say, the said Narrative enlarged for this intended Edition, is not in that form, and therefore is thus published according to Mr. Glanvil's M. S. in this bare simple form it was found. As for Mr. Glanvil's Letter to Dr. More, which was in the former Impressions, though for the first parts sake it might seem […]it here to be interserted, it containing Objections and Queries touching the stirrs at Mr. Mompesson's house, yet the greater part by far being of another subject, and the most material of those Objections and Queries being so well satisfied in this more perfect Narrative it self, I thought it more advisable to omit that Letter in this present Edition, that there might be left more room for what is more congenerous to the Argument in hand. And therefore we will immediately proceed to the second Relation.

RELAT. II. Which is concerning Witchcraft practised by Jane Brooks upon Richard Jones, Son of Henry Jones of Shepton Mallet.

ON Sunday 15. of Novemb. 1657. about Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, Richard Jones then a sprightly youth about Twelve years old, Son of Henry Jones of Shepton Mallet, in the County of Somerset, being in his Fathers house alone, and perceiving one looking in at the Windows, went to the Door, where one Jane Brooks of the same Town (but then by name unknown to this Boy) came to him. She desired him to give her a piece of close Bread, and gave him an Apple. After which she also stroked him down on the right side, shook him by the hand, and so bid him good night. The youth returned into the house, where he had been lest well, when his Father and one Gibson went from him, but at their return, which was within an hour or thereabout, they found him ill, and complaining of his right side, in which the pain continued the most part of that night. And on Munday following in the Evening, the Boy rosted the Apple he had of Jane Brooks, and having eaten about half of it, was extreamly ill, and sometimes speechless, but being recovered, he told his Father, that a Woman of the Town on the Sunday before, had given him that Apple, and that she stroked him on the side. He said he knew not her name, but should her person, if he saw her. Upon this Jones was advised to invite the Women of Shepton to come to his House, upon the occasion of his Sons illness, and the Child told him, that in case the Woman should come in when he was in his Fit, if he were not able to speak, he would give him an intimation by a Jogg, and desired that his Father would then lead him through the room, for he said he would put his hand upon her, if she were there. After this he continuing very ill, many Women came daily to see him. And Jane Brooks the Sunday after, came in with Two of her Sisters, and several other Women of the Neighbour-hood were there.

Upon her coming in, the Boy was taken so ill, that for some time he could not see nor speak, but having recovered his sight, he gave his Father the Item, and he led him about the Room. The Boy drew towards Jane Brooks, who was behind her two Sisters among the other Women, and put his hand upon her, which his Father perceiving, immediately scratcheth her Face and drew Blood from her. The youth then presently cryed out that he was well, and so he continued seven or eight days. But then meeting with Alice Coward, Sister to Jane Brooks, who passing by said to him [How do you my Hony] he presently fell […]ll again. And after that, the said Coward and Brooks often appeared to him. The Boy would describe the Clothes and Habit they were in at the time exactly, as the Constable and others have found upon repairing to them, though Brooks's house was at a good distance from Jones's. This they often tryed, and always found the Boy right in his Descriptions.

On a certain Sunday about Noon, the Child being in a Room with his Father and one Gibson, and in his fit, he on the sudden called out, that he saw Jane Brooks on the Wall, and pointed to the place, where immediately Gibson struck with a Knife. Upon which the Boy cryed out, [O Father, cooz Gibson hath cut Jane Brooks's hand, and 'tis Bloody] The Father and Gibson immediately repaired to the Constable a discreet Person, and acquainting him with what had passed, desired him to go with them to Jane Brooks's house, which he did. They found her sitting in her room on a stool with one hand over the other. The Constable askt her how she did? she answered, not well. He askt again why she sat with one hand over the other? she replied, she was wont to do so. He enquired if any thing were amiss with her hand? her answer was, it was well enough. The Constable desired he might see the hand that was under, which she being unwilling to shew him, he drew it out and found it bloudy according to what the Boy had said. Being askt how it came so, she said 'twas scratched with a great Pin.

On the Eighth of December, 1657. The Boy, Jane Brooks, and Alice Coward, appeared at Castle-Cary before the Justices, Mr. Hunt and Mr. Cary. The Boy having begun to give his Testimony, upon the coming in of the two Women and their looking on him was instantly taken Speechless; and so remained till the Women were removed out of the room, and then in a short time upon examination he gave a full relation of the mentioned particulars.

On the Eleventh of January following, the Boy was again examined by the same Justices at Shepton Mallet, and upon the sight of Jane Brooks was again taken Speechless, but was not so afterwards when Alice Coward came into the room to him.

On the next appearance at Shepton, which was on the Seventeenth of February, there were present many Gentlemen, Ministers and others. The Boy fell into his fit upon the sight of Jane Brooks, and lay in a Man's Arms like a dead Person; the Woman was then willed to lay her hand on him, which she did, and he thereupon started and sprang out in a very strange and unusual manner. One of the Justices to prevent all possibilities of Legerdemain, caused Gibson and the rest to stand off from the Boy, and then that Justice himself held him; the Youth being blindfolded, the Justice called as if Brooks should touch him, but winked to others to do it, which two or three successively did, but the Boy appeared not concerned. The Justice then called on the Father to take him, but had privately before desired one Mr. Geoffry Strode, to bring Jane Brooks to touch him at such a time as he should call for his Father, which was done, and the Boy immediately sprang out after a very odd and violent fashion. He was after touched by several Persons and moved not, but Jane Brooks being again caused to put her hand upon him, he started and sprang out twice or thrice as before. All this while he remained in his fit and some time after; and being then laid on a bed in the same room, the People present could not for a long time bow either of his Arms or Leggs.

Between the mentioned 15. of Nov. and the 11. of Jan. the two Women appeared often to the Boy, their Hands cold, their Eyes staring, and their Lips and Cheeks looking pale. In this manner on a Thursday about Noon, the Boy being newly laid into his bed, Jane Brooks and Alice Coward appeared to him, and told him that what they had begun they could not perform. But if he would say no more of it, they would give him Money, and so put a Two-pence into his Pocket. After which they took him out of his bed, laid him on the ground, and vanished, and the Boy was found by those that came next into the room lying on the flour, as if he had been dead. The Two-pence was seen by many, and when it was put into the fire and hot, the Boy would fall ill; but as soon as it was taken out and cold, he would be again as well as before. This was seen and observed by a Minister a discreet Person, when the Boy was in one room and the Two-pence (without his knowledge) put into the fire in another, and this was divers times tried in the presence of several Persons.

Between the 8. of Dec. and the 17. of Feb. in the Year mentioned, divers Persons at sundry times heard in the Boy a noise like the croaking of a Toad, and a voice within him saying, Jane Brooks, Alice Coward, twelve times in near a quarter of an hour. At the same time some held a Candle before the Boys face, and earnestly looked on him, but could not perceive the least motion of his Tongue, Teeth or Lips, while the voice was heard.

On the 25. of Feb. between two and three in the Afternoon, the Boy being at the house of Richard Isles in Shepton Mallet, went out of the room into the Garden, Isles his Wife followed him, and was within two Yards when she saw him rise up from the ground before her, and so mounted higher and higher till he passed in the Air over the Garden wall, and was carried so above ground more than 30 Yards, falling at last at one Jordan's Door at Shepton, where he was found as dead for a time. But coming to himself told Jordan, that Jane Brooks had taken him up by the Arm out of Isles his Garden, and carried him in the Air as is related.

The Boy at several other times was gone on the suddain, and upon search after him found in another room as dead, and at sometimes strangely hanging above the ground, his hands being flat against a great Beam in the top of the room, and all his Body two or three foot from ground. There he hath hung a quarter of an hour together, and being afterwards come to himself, he told those that found him, that Jane Brooks had carried him to that place and held him there. Nine People at a time saw the Boy so strangely hanging by the Beam.

From the 15. of Nov. to the 10. of March following, he was by reason of his fits much wasted in his body and unspirited, but after that time, being the day the two Women were sent to Gaol, he had no more of those fits.

Jane Brooks was Condemned and Executed at Charde Assizes, March 26. 1658.

This is the sum of Mr. Hunts Narrative, which concludes with both the Justices attestation, thus:

The aforesaid passages were some of them seen by us: and the rest and some other remarkable ones, not here set down, were upon the examination of several credible witnesses taken upon Oath before us.

Subscribed;

Rob. Hunt, John Cary.

This I think is good evidence of the being of Witches; if the Sadducee be not satisfied with it, I would fain know what kind of Proof he would expect. Here are the Testimonies of sense, the Oaths of several credible attesters, the nice and deliberate scrutiny of quick-sighted and judicious examiners, and the judgment of an Assize upon the whole. And now the security of all our lives and fortunes depends upon no greater circumstances of evidence than these. If such proof may not be credited, no Fact can be proved, no wickedness can be punished, no right can be determined, Law is at an end, and blind Justice cannot tell how to decide any thing.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The most fit Advertisement here is Mr. Glanvills Transition to fresh Evidences, out of Mr. Hunts examinations, which is this. Thus far, saith he, the Evidence of Fact went in the former Editions, but having resolved upon this Reenforcement, I writ again to my Honoured Friend Mr. Hunt, knowing that he had more materials for my purpose, and such as would afford proof sufficient to any modest doubter. In Answer he was pleased to send me his Book of Examinations of Witches, which he kept by him fairly written. It contains the discovery of such an hellish Knot of them, and that discovery so clear and plain, that perhaps there hath not yet any thing appeared to us with stronger Evidence to confirm the belief of Witches. And had not his discoveries and endeavours met with great opposition and discouragements from some then in Authority, the whole Clan of those hellish Confederates in these parts had been justly exposed and punished. Out of that Book I have Collected some main instances, the clearness of which I think will be enough to overcome and silence any indifferent prejudice. But some are so settled and obdurate, that no proof in the World is sufficient to remove them. I begin with the Witchcrafts of Elizabeth Style.